Raleigh’s ears are still ringing after magpies, spiders, and whores made one hell of a loud noise at The Pour House.
The Pour House in downtown Raleigh, NC, is well known as a venue that welcomes the metal scene. This is the place where fans were standing as they tell their “I saw them before they became big” stories. Whether the three bands who performed will become household names in the future is yet to be known, but some one hundred-plus fans took no chances and filled the venue for a punishingly loud evening of sludgy, stoner, punk-infused metal.
Raleigh’s own The Magpie opened the evening for their last show of 2024. This was the first live show with their new bassist who showed no weakness or fear at any point during the set. Fronted by Erik Sugg on vocals and guitar, Erik’s unique voice separates The Magpie from similar bands. Erik’s soprano voice, with a stunningly fast rapid tremolo, conjures comparisons to a rougher version of Justin Hawkins from The Darkness. The trio, all with lengthy experience of performing with other successful local bands, formed in 2022 and have seamlessly connected with each other for a supremely heavy sound with just a little pop essence mixed in. Sticking primarily with slow and heavy songs such as “The Sleepy Eye,” punk-tinged “Derailed” upped the speed with a nod to 1980s punk rock. A perfect start to the evening.
Another local band, Crystal Spiders, held a supporting slot and kept the heavy, sludgy, stoner-ish metal evening going. Bassist and vocalist Brenna Leath’s voice was unquestionably the visual focal point on stage but what stands out most for Crystal Spiders is Brenna’s voice. Brenna should win the superlative award for “Most Likely to Kill an Ann Wilson from Heart cover song.” Soaring, incredibly strong, and effortless, Brenna’s voice elevates above the thousand-pound heaviness of the music and demands attention. Interestingly, the guitar solos shredded at a breakneck pace in every song, a surprising juxtaposition with the slow heaviness of the rest of their music. Crystal Spiders upped the intensity, upped the volume, and prepared The Pour House perfectly for the upcoming headliner. Headlining the evening was Atlanta, Georgia’s own WHORES. WHORES. is the soundtrack for unleashed ferocity. Raw, barely-controlled, and sometimes unnecessarily bloody and brutal, WHORES. delivered one of the loudest and most intense shows in Raleigh throughout 2024. To call WHORES.’ sound punishing is an understatement.WHORES. wasted no time completing their setup and sound check then immediately started their set. Guitarist and vocalist Christian Lembach continually fell out of tune because he physically abused his guitar throughout the set. Amplifiers and effects pedals had problems because the volume was so loud, they wouldn’t sound right. The reality is, however, that this is exactly how WHORES. is supposed to sound and be felt. The high volume wasn’t like a Spinal Tap “turn it up to 11” gimmick, the emotional intensity of WHORES. compositions requires the volume, just like a warrior who defeats a superior enemy must scream in victory to release the remaining rage from the body.
The ten-song set included music from both studio albums and both EPs released by the band. Opening with the furious “Fake Life” from the Ruiner EP, all three band members immediately physically threw themselves into the music and thrashed about the small stage while pounding on their instruments. Their sound enveloped the room and shook the front windows facing the downtown Raleigh street. There was nowhere to hide, The Pour House’s concrete walls were simply no match for WHORES.
By halfway through the set, a small mosh pit opened for “Baby Bird” and continued for the rest of the show. Creative loops of strange guitar sounds filled the space between most songs and kept the anticipation for the start of the next song at a fever pitch. Rarely slowing down and never losing their frenetic energy, WHORES. pummeled the Pour House with a noise and intensity not for the weak of heart.
The current leg of the WAR. Headline Tour 2024 ends on December 21 in Columbia, South Carolina. They will kick off a European tour starting in Germany on May 1, 2025.
